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The Most Dependable Cars Include Some Surprises

With few exceptions, most cars and trucks coming out of the factory these days are well-built and thoughtfully designed, earning high marks from consumers for their initial quality.

But ask car buyers again in three years whether they’re satisfied with their car’s reliability and you might get a different answer. Indeed, vehicle quality is best measured a few years down the road, after it’s logged 40,000 or 50,000 miles, been driven over potholes and endured the kind of abuse that comes from being used as a living room on wheels.

It’s no surprise, probably, that Lexus tops this year’s study as the most reliable brand. But how about Lincoln tying with Toyota for third place? Or that Buick, Ram and Chevrolet are all above average? Or Land Rover, with a reputation for rugged luxury, is the least reliable nameplate. Volkswagen and Audi are also below average.

The study measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of three-year-old vehicles. Dependability is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles, with a lower score reflecting higher quality.

Toyota Motor, which was dogged by quality recalls a few years ago, nonetheless has the most reliable model in seven segments — Lexus ES 350; Lexus RX; Scion xB; Scion xD; Toyota Prius; Toyota Sienna; and Toyota RAV4. General Motors had the most reliable vehicle in four segments – the Buick Lucerne; Chevrolet Camaro; Chevrolet Tahoe; and GMC Sierra HD pickup.

Overall, vehicle dependability is at an all-time high, so if you can’t afford a new vehicle, or you simply don’t want one, you should feel confident about buying a pre-owned car, especially one that is certified by the manufacturer.

And if you’re worried about buying a pre-owned car that was all-new or redesigned the year it first went on sale, don’t be. J.D. Power says the perception that these first-year models aren’t as dependable as carryover models is false. In fact, dependability of all-new and redesigned models is at a record high, according to the latest study.

Another misconception is that domestic brands are less reliable. The study showed that improvements in vehicle dependability have been made by both domestic and import brands, and the gap between the two is narrowing. Overall, domestic nameplates average 133 problems per 100 vehicles, while import nameplates average 123. The average for all vehicles is 126 problems per 100 vehicles, up 5 percent from last year’s survey of 2009 models.

Lincoln’s third-place ranking ought to be good news for parent Ford Motor Co., but it underscores the challenge the automaker faces trying to revive the slow-selling brand. Lincoln makes good cars, but its brand reputation is still lagging. Ford plans to introduce four new Lincoln models over the next four years, but its first one, a redesigned MKZ, is only trickling into dealerships as Ford works to ensure quality.

“The continuous improvement in long-term dependability means consumers should have more confidence in three-year-old vehicles, whether they are keeping their current vehicle or shopping for a used car, truck, crossover or SUV,” said David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power. “This means there are a lot of dependable off-lease vehicles in the used-vehicle market. It also means that owners who keep their vehicle beyond the manufacturer’s warranty period are able to have greater peace of mind that vehicles are becoming increasingly more dependable. That said, it is virtually certain that new vehicles being sold today will be even more reliable in three years.”

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